“Time to reach pinnacle!” Dustin Poirier stuns fans after announcing next fight is Islam Makhachev for UFC lightweight belt

Dustin Poirier seemingly confirms receiving the title shot to challenge Islam Makhachev.

“Time to reach pinnacle!” Dustin Poirier stuns fans after announcing next fight is Islam Makhachev for UFC lightweight belt

Dustin Poirier might fight Islam Makhachev next (via Imago)

Dustin Poirier is on the hunt for UFC gold once more. The fan-favorite lightweight contender recently teased his next fight on social media, and it’s a banger. Poirier seemingly confirmed that he’ll challenge the reigning and defending UFC lightweight champion, the unstoppable Islam Makhachev.

Dustin Poirier‘s post on Instagram was short and sweet. This bombshell announcement has the MMA world buzzing. Poirier believed he had done enough to get another crack at the lightweight belt. His caption seemingly confirmed the title matchup against the P4P number 1 fighter.

Islam Makhachev is next. It's time to reach the pinnacle.
Dustin Poirier via Instagram
YouTube video

Poirier is fresh off a knockout win over Benoit Saint-Denis at UFC 299. He seemed ready to go, and the matchup with Makhachev remains too tantalizing for the UFC to pass up. Moreover, Poirier’s star power and fanbase make him a marketable challenger for Makhachev’s title. His first title fight was against Makhachev’s mentor and friend, Khabib Nurmagomedov. Whether he captures the title this time around remains a mystery.

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The Russian champion is on an absolute tear, winning 13 fights in a row. These include impressive victories over the likes of Charles Oliveira and Alexander Volkanovski. Makhachev has silenced the doubters and proven himself to be a true force to be reckoned with in the stacked lightweight division.

Justin Gaethje reveals the reason why Islam Makhachev is calling out Dustin Poirier

BMF Champion Justin Gaethje had some thoughts on the rumored title fight between champion Islam Makhachev and fan-favorite Dustin Poirier. He seemed to think Islam Makhachev was calling out Poirier because of the advantage of style-matchup that Makhachev has. Gaethje shared his perspective on the potential Makhachev vs. Poirier matchup. 

Justin Gaethje is not happy with Islam Makhachev vs. Dustin Poirier
Justin Gaethje is not happy with Islam Makhachev vs. Dustin Poirier (via MMA Fighting)

Gaethje was not sure why Islam Makhachev remained insistent on a June date. ‘The Highlight’ said that those fighting at UFC 300 wouldn’t be ready in June to fight him. In other words, Gaethje believed Makhachev targeted Poirier because of the confidence to emerge victorious in the fight.

I’m not sure why June is his date. If I’m Makhachev I want to take the [Dustin] fight because I think I win that fight.
Justin Gaethje via Shak Fu

Poirier is no easy out for Makhachev. He is a seasoned veteran with knockout power and a proven track record of challenging for the title. But Makhachev’s dominant grappling and ground game could pose serious problems for “The Diamond.” This was evident when Poirier fought Khabib Nurmagomedov and Charles Oliveira. As such, Gaethje’s remarks about Makhachev vs. Poirier hold merit.

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